(19)
(11) EP 0 177 051 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
01.07.1987 Bulletin 1987/27

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.04.1986 Bulletin 1986/15

(21) Application number: 85112594

(22) Date of filing: 04.10.1985
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE FR GB LI

(30) Priority: 04.10.1984 US 657705

(71) Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC.
 ()

(72) Inventors:
  • Salazar, Edilberto I.
     ()
  • Kirschner, Wallace
     ()

   


(54) Printing apparatus comprising microprocessor controlled D.C. motor for controlling print value selection means and process for operating printing apparatus


(57) In printing apparatus including means (464,465) for changing a value to be printed and means (470) for selecting a value to be printed, wherein the value changing means includes a plurality of banks (460,464), each of the banks includes a print wheel (464) having a plurality of print elements (465), and wherein the value selection means includes means (472) for selecting each bank and means (476,480) for selecting each print element (465) of a selected bank, and means (120) for driving the bank and print element selection means, wherein the driving means includes an output shaft (122), and means for selectively coupling the output shaft to the bank and print element selection means (470), an improvement for controlling the value selection means, the improvement comprising: the driving means including a d.c. motor (120) having the output shaft (122); means (126) for sensing angular displacement of the motor output shaft; a computer (500) comprising clock means for generating successive sampling time periods, means for providing first counts respectively representative of successive desired angular displacements of the motor output shaft (122) during successive sampling time periods, means (270) responsive to the sensing means (126) for providing second counts respectively representative of actual angular displacements of the motor output shaft (122) during successive sampling time periods, and means for compensating for the difference between the first and second counts during each successive sampling time period and generating a pulse width modulated control signal for controlling the d.c. motor (120), the motor control signal causing the actual angular displacement of the motor output shaft (122) to substantially match the desired angular displacement of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods; and signal amplifying means (300) for operably coupling the motor control signal to the d.c. motor (120).







Search report